The 2017 Chicago White Sox pitching rotation is not a unit that will excite fans and strike fear in their opponents. The team is likely going to to trade Jose Quintana before the end of the year, leaving a group of uninspiring candidates to fill the rotation.

Miguel Gonzalez, James Shields and Derek Holland have all had flashes of greatness before, but are not pitchers you’d expect to see on a playoff team. If the team trades Quintana, Rule 5 Draft pick Dylan Covey would likely take his spot. Covey has never appeared above Double A.

Keeping Quintana would make the White Sox pitching rotation much more bearable to watch. However as the team rebuilds, it appears as if the team’s ace is a goner. Luckily the South Side has a rising star amongst the pitching ranks.

Carlos Rodon has been in the MLB for the past two seasons, appearing in 54 games and 304.1 innings. He holds a career 18-16 record with a 3.90 ERA and a 307/125 K/BB ratio.

Rodon was the White Sox first pick, third overall, in the 2014 MLB Draft. While he hasn’t necessarily failed, he hasn’t lived up to the lofty expectations of being the third overall pick.

The 2017 season will be make or break for Rodon. Regardless of if the team has Quintana or not, Rodon needs to prove that he could lead a rotation. The team brought in an influx of pitching talent in Lucas Giolito, Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez. Chicago is expected to have a rotation full of aces, 2017 will give Rodon a chance to prove he belongs.

Rodon will have his work cut out for him, but atleast one MLB Analyst thinks he won’t just succeed, but thrive.